Speculation [pp. 495]

SPECULATION.
this girl was. But he was proud and he
did not wish to have her see how much
she hurt. "Marry George," he said
then.
Marry George?" she answered.
"Why, foolish Yat! George and I were
married yesterday."
She laughed again, and bent over him.
"Poor Yat," she said, but there was
only mockery in her tones. "Poor Yat."
She stooped closer -so close that he
saw every little mocking wrinkle about
her mouth and felt her breath fan his
cheek. Suddenly his eyes fired up and
he made a start as if to take hold of
her. She leaped back, and then, as Yat
sank down once more, she came and
stooped over him again. "Poor Yat,"
she crooned. " Did you come near having another fit then?"
The fire flamed in Yat's eyes once
more. His long, strong arms reached
out suddenly and he seized her by the
shoulders, - seized her and shook her
until he felt by her unresistant weight
that she was unconscious. Then he
called all his strength to one mighty effort
ana hurled her savagely from him.
She fell among the stones some feet
away, but in plain sight. And there for
some time he sat stolidly and looked upon
her. He saw the outline of her figure;
a portion of her smooth breast was disclosed through the torn bosom of her gala
dress. Her face was half turned towards
him and he noted that there was a great
red mark down across the temple. But
he sat for hours gazing immovably upon
her. Then that soft breast and that
cruel red streak began to appeal to him
and he called softly, " Maria!" and then
louder, "Maria! Maria!"
But Maria did not hear. A blue-jay
heard him, though, and chattered loudly.
From the sweat-house came laughter
and shouts, and the ponies tied close to
where he sat whinnied and stamped
about. But from Maria came no sound.
And so Yat sat until some of the Indians
came and carried Maria away. George
swore vengeance, but Chief Pamblo, out
of his love of Yat, paid a large indemnity
and the matter passed.
For many years Yat was a familiar
figure to the hill people. He never became able to walk, but he could swing
his body over the ground by his arms,
which became unusually long and strong.
So this is the story of Yat, and like
Yat, it is now ended.
Ehyn hImving Hoffiman.
SPECULATION.
y ESTERDAY
I was, or was not, Who can say,
From nothing something,
Or alway?
Today I am! yet what?
Tomorrow I may be
Worm-food, or heir
To all eternity!
William H. Anderson.
VOL. xxvi.-40.
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